On 15 December I attended La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ Schools Certificate Awards Ceremony. The event was preceded by the annual carol service which included readings from the students, a medley of music from the school band and of course the school choir singing a selection of seasonal music.

Councillor Florence Nosegbe was the nights guest of honour, presenting certificates to students and she gave an excellent speech talking about how she had come from a similar background as many of the students and had gone on to University and now an elected councillor in the London Borough of Lambeth.

The programme feature a mixture of hymns, readings, organ solo, vocal ensemble and many seasonal tunes from the choir.

Festive songs included The First Nowell, O Come All Ye Faithfull and Once in Royal David’s City. Among the hymns from the choir included In Dulci Jublio, Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Wassail Song, Sussex Carol, White Christmas and finished with We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

The event supported Age Concern Lambeth this year and their befriending campaign.

It was a wonderful evening and I was pleased that Councillor Marchant, who has twice previously been Mayor of Lambeth, agreed to accompany me. We both throughly enjoyed the evening including mulled wine and mince pies.

On Thursday 11 December I attended the Dunraven School Christmas Music Concert. A brilliant evening where I was extremely impressed by the range of skill demonstrated which truly was outstanding.

The hall was packed with parents together with a large number of Councillors who had come to support and enjoy the event including Cllr Mark Bennett (who is Vice-Chair of Governors at the school), Cllr Clive Bennett, Cllr Sheila Clarke and Cllr June Fewtrell.

On Thursday 11 December I attended the West Indian Ex-Servicesmen / Women’s Association Pensioners Christmas Dinner 2008 at their centre in Clapham Manor Street close to Clapham high street.

It was a wonderful afternoon with great food and entertainment, and we had a chance to catch up with some old friends whilst making some new ones, and was pleased to see Councillor Betty Evans-Jacas who had come to support the event.

On Friday 12th December I attending the Metropolitan police service passing out parade for the student intake 02/08-9. Students passing out that will be coming to Lambeth were trained at Croydon, and during the day I met with them and their families. They will come to Brixton and Kennington where they had spent time whilst training.

Their proud parents had come from far and wide, I met one students family whose mother had worked for Lambeth and other local authorities in the past but now lived abroad.

Whilst at the event I met with the current Mayor and Mayoress of Harrow, the first borough I had lived in as a child. Whilst talking I discovered that Councillor John Nickolay was my councillor when I was three years old and that his first child was born two months after me at the same hospital in Kingsbury.